Tool for cutting knitted wire fabric into narrow strips.



' Patented May I4,"|90l., C. EDGE.

TOL FDR CUTTING KNITTED WIRE FABRIC INTO NARROW STRlPS.

(Application filed Nov. 8, 1900.)

(No Model.;

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INVENTOR:

ATTOR Y llirnn *Starts FF ICE.,

CHARLES EDGE, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

TOOL FOR CUTTING KNlTTED WIRE FABRIC INTO NARROW STRIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,056, dated May 14,1901. Application filed November S, 1900. Serial No. 35,308. (No model.)

To all w/wm t may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES EDGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin Tools for Cutting KnittedWire Fabric into Narrow Strips; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to a novel construction of tool for cuttingknitted wire fabric into narrow strips, in which by means of theemployment of a cutting-tool the fabric is cut or severed and atthe sametime the sharp edges or points of the cross-strands of wire are turnedover or closed down to form loops, whereby a smooth and finished edge isthe result.

The knitted fabric in connection with which my present invention isemployed is usually made in widths of three or more feet and then cut,by means of the ordinary shears or circular cutters, into narrow stripsfor chains, belts, and various other purposes. In this method of cuttingthe knitted wire fabric into narrow strips each cross-strand of wireprojects from the side edges of the strip, thereby leaving a rough edge,which has to be turned over by hand or by a second operation in passingthe strip through other suitable machinery. 'r

The object of my present invention is to overcome these objectionablefeatures; and the invention therefore consists in the novel apparatus orcutting-tool hereinafter fully described for cutting` wire fabric intonarrow strips and during the operation of cutting turning down theprojecting ends 0f the cross wires or strands to form loops and providea finished edge.

The invention consists, furthermore, in the several novel arrangementsand combinations of the various parts of the tool, all of which will behereinafter more particularly described and then iinally embodied in theclauses of the claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure l is a plan view of one form of cutting-tool embodying theprinciples of my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view, and Fig. 3 is a sideview, of the same. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of thetool, taken on line 4 4 in Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a horizontal scction' takenon line 5 5 in Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a like section taken on line 6 6 insaid Fig. 3 and lookingin the direction ofthe arrow 0c. Fig. 7 is acrosssection of the knitted wire fabric, with a vertical sectionalrepresentation of the cutters of the tool, said sec tion being` taken online 7 7 in Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the knitted wirefabric, representing the upper cutting blade or knife of the tool inhorizontal section, said view illustrating the cutting operation and thebending or turning down of the cut ends or strands of the crosswires.

Similar letters of reference are employed in all of the saidabove-described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to said drawings, A indicates the cutting-tool embodying theprinciples of my present in vention, comprisinga suitable base et,provided with an open space a', formed by the supporting portion a2 anda forwardlyextending offset a3, substantially as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.In practice said tool A, or rather the base thereof, is arranged-in asuitable recess A2 in the table or bench A', being securely held inplace by a bolt or screw A3, which is passed into an opening orhole A4inthe side of the table and then through an opening or hole c4 in the basea, and finally screwed into the portion A5 of the table, as will beclearly evident from an inspection of Fig. l. To the front d5 of thebase a, I have secured a suitable guide-plate c, having its upper edge cslightly curved and made in the manner of a knife-edge. Said plate issecured to the base a by means of a screw, and it also has a curved slotc3, in which I have arranged a screw c4, secured in the face of the based, and whereby by slightly unscrewing the two screws c2 and c4 theguide-plate c can be suitably adjusted and the knifeedge c broughtclosely against the sharp edge of the cutting-blade d. This blade d isslotted, as at d', and is adjustably secured to a top plate a6, adaptedto slide on a rib or projection a7 on said offset' a3 by means of ascrew d2, the head of which rests against a washer cl3, which can befirmly forced down over the slot d' to hold said blade CZ in any desiredposition. By means of the several screws in the plate c and in the bladed said parts can be properly adjusted to the thickness of the knittedfabric which is to be cut into narrow strips, as will be clearlyevident. Upon the face or front of said offset or extension 0.3, securedto a suitable slide f (see Fig. l) and arranged directly in front of thesharp cutting edge d4 of the blade d, is a second blade e, which isprovided with a sharp edge e. This edge e'. of said second blade isenlargedand is spear-shaped in end elevation, as clearly represented inFig. 3, and is for the purpose of being fitted down into the spacebetween two consecutive ribs or rises b of the fabric b. It thereby actsas a'gage to properly guide the portion of the fabric b to be cutagainst the cutting edge d4 of the blade d. The said blade e is slottedat e2 and is secured, by means of the screw c3, to said slide f, thehead of the screw e3 being adapted to be tightly brought down against awasher e, whereby said blade@ can be held in any desiredvertically-adjusted position against the front or face of the extensiona3, as will be understood.

As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 2 of the drawings, thecutting edge d4 extends upwardly at an angle to the edge d5 of the bladed, while the remaining portion d6 of the lower edge of said blade canalso be made in the manner of aknife-edge; but such knifeedge is not anabsolute necessity.

As has been hereinabove stated and as will be understood moreparticularly from an inspection of Fig. l ofthe drawings, the slide fissecured against the side of the extension a3 and the top plate a6 onsaid extension by means of a screw f', which passes through a slot f2 insaid slide and is secured in the side of said extension a6. To screw thesaid screw e3, which secures the gage e in position, into the end ofsaid slide f, the latter is enlarged at f3, said enlargement beingadapted to lit into a cut-away portion a8 in the top plate, as shown. Byslightly unscrewing the screw f said slide can be moved forwardly orbackwardly to bring the spear-shaped edge of the gage edirectly over thespace between two 0f said ribs or rises b of the wire fabric b, and thegage e is then vertically adj usted by means of the screw es. When theslide f and the gage e have been properly adjusted in the manner-juststated,the top plate can be moved forwardly by means of a screw-bolt g,working in a screw-threaded hole in a post a9 ou the base ct, by forcingthe end of said screwbolt against the surface d10 of the plate d to moveit forwardly, at the same time screwing a screw h in a secondperforation in said post a into a screw-threaded opening duin said topplate. When it is desired to move said top plate in the oppositedirection, all that is necessary is to turn the screw g, and then byturning the screw h in the opposite direction the top plate, and with itthe parts connected therewith, will be returned to their normalpositions. On the rib or projection a7 is an upwardly-extending post(L12, which extends through a slot als in said top plate and isscrew-threaded to receive a tightening-nut am. Said extension a3 mayalso be provided with sockets (L15 and coiled springs land i therein,which exert pressure against the under surface of said top plate a6 andhelp to securely hold the same in its adjusted position when the nut amis screwed down upon the post am. In this manner, as will be clearlyevident, all the parts can be quickly and separately adjusted and whenadjusted are secured in their fixed positions ready for the cuttingoperation. y

To cut the fabric into narrow strips and at the same time turn down theprojecting ends of the severed cross-strands of wireto produce afinished edge, the fabric is slightly cut with a pair of ordinary shearsto form the ends b2 of the strips, and then the piece is placed upon thetable A/ in such a manner that the spear-shaped edge of the gage e litsdown into the space between two of the consecutive ribs b of the fabricwhen the latter is to be cut. The operator thentakes one `end b2 of thefabric in each hand and draws the cross-strands of the fabric againstthe cutting edge d4 of the blade d, whereby each strand is cut orsevered as it is brought into contact with said cutting edge of saidblade d. During the cutting operation the fabric is pulled in anupwardly direction by the operator, which brings the extending points ofthe severed cross-strands of the wires against the sides d7 of the bladed directly above its lower edge,and in thus being forcibly broughtagainst the said sides the sharp points or ends of the strands are bentor turned inwardly and downwardly to form the closed loops. (Clearlyindicated in Fig. 8.)

The method or procedure of the device is very simple in its constructionand operation, producing in one operation narrow strips of knitted wirefabric in the form of chains or of proper widths for belts and otheranalogous uses, with their edges in a finished slate, which heretoforehad to be accomplished by two distinct operations.

Of course I am aware that changes may be made in lthe severalarrangements and combinations of the various parts of the device asherein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings withoutdeparting from the scope of my present invention. Hence I IOO IIO

do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations ofthe parts of the cutting-tool herein set forth, nor do I confine myselfto the details of the construction of any of the parts thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A toolV forcutting knitted wi re fabric into narrow strips, and during its cuttingoperation, bending or turning down the severed ends of the cross-wiresto form a nished edge on the narrow st rips, comprising, guide-platesand a cutter, against the cutting edge of which the wire fabric isdrawn, said cutter having an upwardly-inclining cutting edge, adaptedto. cut the cross-strands ofthe fabric, and straight sides directlybehind said cutting edge, operating to bend or turn down the severedstrands of the fabric to form loops thereon, when the fabric is drawnagainst the tool, substantially as and for the purposes set fort-h.

2. A tool for cutting knitted wire fabric into narrow strips, and duringits cutting operation, bending or turning down the severed ends of thecross-wires to form a finished edge on the narrow strips, comprising, alower guide-plate having a sharp upper edge, and an upper guide-platehaving a sharp lower edge, said edges being adapted to extend into thespace formed between two ribs in the fabric to be cut, a cutter, againstthe cutting edge of which the wire fabric is drawn, said cutter havingan upwardly-inclining cutting edge, adapted to cut the cross-strands ofthe fabric, and straight sides directly behind said cutting edge,operating to bend or turn down the severed strands of the fabricto formloops thereon, when the fabric is drawn against the tool, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

3. A tool for cutting knitted wire fabric into narrow strips,comprising, a suitable base, a guide-plate c, having a sharp guidingedge c', a cutter d, having an upwardly-inclining cutting edge d4, and agage e, having a spearshaped edge e', substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

4. A tool for cutting knitted wire fabric into narrow strips,comprising, a suitable base, an adjustable guide-plate c, having a sharpcutting edge c", an adjustable cutter d, having an npwardly-incliningcutting edge d4, and an adjustable gage e, having a spear-shaped edgee', substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. A tool for cutting knitted wire fabric into narrow strips,comprising, a suitable base, having a supporting portion a2 and anextension a3 forming a cutting-space a', a top plate adj ustablyarranged on said extension, a guide-plate c on the front of said baseand provided with a sharp guiding edge c', and a cutter d secured tosaid top plate and having an upwardly-inclining cutting edge d4,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

G. A tool for cutting knitted wire fabric into narrow strips,comprising, a suitable base, having a supporting portion a2 and aneXteusion as forming a cutting-space 61,',a top plate adj ustablyarranged on said extension, an adjustable guide-plate c on the front ofsaid base and provided with a sharp cutting edge c', and an adjustablecutter d connected with said top plate and having an upwardly-incliningcutting edge d4, substantially as and for t-he purposes set forth.

7. A tool for cutting knitted wire fabric into narrow strips,comprising, a suitable base, having a supporting portion d2 and anextension a3 forming a cutting-space a', a top plate adj ustablyarranged on said extension, a slide f on the side of said top plate, aguide-plate c on the front of said base and provided with a sharpguiding edge c', a cutter d secured to said top plate, having anupwardly-inclining cutting edge d4, and a gage-plate e having aspear-shaped edge, said plate being secured to said slide f,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. A tool for cutting knitted wire fabric into narrow strips,comprising, a suitable base, having a supporting portion a2 and aneXtension a3 forming a cutting-space a', a top plate adj ustablyarranged on said extension, a slide fon the side of said top plate, anadjustable guide-plate c on the front of said base and provided with asharp guiding edge c', an adj ustable cutter d connected with said topplate, having an upwaFdly-inclining cutting edge d4, and a gage-plate ehaving a spearshaped edge, said plate being adjustably secured to saidslide f, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. The herein-described cutting-tool A for cutting knitted Wire fabricinto narrow strips, comprising, a base a, having a perforation or holea4, and means for securing said base to a table or bench, a supportingportion d2 and an extension a3 forming a cutting-space a', a post a9, arib or projection 0,7, a top plate a6 on said rib, and bolts or screwsin said post for adjusting said plate a on said rib, a slidefon the sideof said top plate, a guide-plate c on the front of said base, a cutter dsecured to said top plate, having an upwardly-inclining cutting edge d4,and a gage-plate e having a spear-shaped edge, said plate being securedto said slide f, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. The herein-described cutting-tool A for cutting knitted wire fabricinto narrow strips, comprising, a base ct, having a perforation a4, andmeans for securing said base to a table or bench, a supporting portiond2 and an extension a3 forming a cutting-space d', a post a9, a rib orprojection a7, a top plate a on said rib, and bolts or screws in saidpost for ad.- justing said top plate a6 on said rib, a slidef on theside of said top plate, a guideplate c on the front of said base, havinga screw c2, and provided with a slot c3, a screw c4 in said IOD IIO

IZO

In testimony that claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this ro 2d day of November, 1900.

CHARLES EDGE.

Witnesses:

FREDK. C. FRAENTZEL, GEO. D. RICHARDS.

